Catalysts of Eco-Constitutional Evolution - Peru’s Landmark Ruling Bridges the Gap Between Anthropocentrism and Ecocentrism

Abstract

On a lawsuit brought forth by a women’s association of the indigenous Kukama people. The association sought recognition of the intrinsic rights of the Marañón River. The judgement is part of a broader constitutional trend towards recognizing nature’s own rights. This movement is notably being driven by Latin American nations where indigenous perspectives on nature emphasize the intrinsic link between a healthy environment and the realization of human rights, thereby softening the adversarial stance between anthropocentrism and ecocentrism. As such, this jurisprudence may serve as catalyst for the ecological constitutional evolution of Western legal systems.

Keywords

• anthropocentrism
• indigenous peoples
• legal personhood
• Peru
• RIghts of Nature
• rivers